Hatch cover



y 21, 1940. "r. H. MacGEORGE HATCH COVER Filed Aug. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR. 7% 0/2205 Mac 660 A TTORNEYS.

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May 21, 1940. T. H. MacGEQRGE 2,201,781

HATCH COVER Filed Aug. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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"' directed to advanced supporting means for the embodying the advancements of the present in- 5 Patented May 21, 1940 t j 2,201,781

UNITED STATES ENT orrice HATCH COVER Thomas H. MaoGeorge, Seattle, Wash., assignor toSeattle Tent & Awning 00., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application August 10, 1936, Serial No. 95,112

14 Claims. (01. 135-5) This invention relates to hatch covers of the In the accompanying drawings: character used as protection against adverse Figure 1 isa view, partly in transverse vertical weather conditions in the loading and unloading section and partly in elevation, representing a of cargo from open hatchways and especially is portion of a marine vessel with a hatch cover hatch cover as distinguished from the means vention applied thereto.

therefor illustrated and described in U. S. Patent Fig, 2 is a top plan View of the hatch cover No. 1,640,188 of John F. Grunbock, issued Auwith the suspension lines which extend from each gust 23, 1927. end of the same shown fragmentarily. 1o Stated generally, the character of hatch cover Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken to an enlarged '10 to which the present invention has reference is scale illustrating the supporting block whichis that which provides a cable-lined ridge slot for employed at the rear end of the ridge slot, the the reception of oneof two cargo lines and, acseveral lines attached thereto being shown fragcording to the teachings of the above identified mentarily.

l5 patent, the cable which acts as a chafing mem- Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line her for the cargo line is comprised of two inde- 4-4 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical pendent laterally spaced lengths connected at section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, the hatch each end of the ridge slot to clevis-type couplings, cover in each of said Figs. 3, 4, and 5 being these couplings being supended from the boom deleted.

g arms of the vessel. The tent itself is suspended Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view of the boom wholly from the chafing cable by cord seizin'gs fitting illustrating the pulley blocks attached passed between the strands of the cable, there thereto which act toreceivethe cargo and susbeing no interconnection as between the tentpension lines.

reinforcing ropes which are stitched to the fabric Fig. 7 is a detail top plan View of the improved 3 and the boom-suspended cable couplings. seizure devices which interconnect the chafing 5 It is a particular object of the present invencable and the marginal edges of the tent at each tion to provide an especially advantageous form side of the ridgeslot; and of block coupling designed to replace the clevis- Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on type member at the rear end of the ridge slot the line 88 of Fig. 7. I and so constituted as to afford interconnection The numeral Ill in the drawings designates 30' not only between the chafing cable and the susthe deck of a vessel, H the hatchway therepension line but also between said chafing cable, through leading to the vessels hold l2, and E3 the suspension line, and the several tent-reinthe vessels mast which supports booms I d and forcing ropes, l5. Ihe hatch cover is comprised of inclined H 3 A further and particular object of the invenside walls 16 and a back wall H, the front of the tion is to provide advanced means by which the tent-like structure thereby formed being open chafing cable is attached to the marginal edges and the two side walls at the top of the tent of the tent lying at each side of the ridge slot. being disposed in spaced relation to produce a The invention has as a still further and paro tud y extending r e t I de te '4 ticular object the provision of improved means the chafing cable which lines the marginal edges 40 by which the forward and rear suspension lines of the ridge slot by I9, the present invention are attached to the booms and through the use of forming the Same from a Single length Of b which the cargo lines may be employed in a more p b y metal, which is turned a its m defiicient manner in that possibility of fouling belength about a supporting block 29 disposed at tween the suspension lines and the cargo lines he r of e ge Slot. the free e f the 45 is prevented, this improved boom fitting, morecable extending in parallel relationship to the over, allowing reversible mounting of the hatch forward end of the slot and engaging clews or cover to accommodate loading or unloading from the like 2!. Thirnb-les carried by the clews reeither the port or starboard side of the vessel. ceive tent-reinforcingropes 22 which are at- Further and still more particular objects, totached to the tent along the forward edge of 5 gether with the foregoing, will become apparent the side walls. v in the course of the following description and Said block 20 I form to a relative U-shape in claims, the invention consisting in the novel top plan, the produced throat at itsrear terminus construction, adaptation, and combination of receiving'a sheave 23 and the bight-forming porparts hereinafter described and claimed. tion of the chafing ca l being brought a ou th 55 exterior and received in longitudinal grooves (Fig. 5) wherein the same is clamped by cap members 25. At its rear the block provides a rearwardly inclined upward extension 24 apertured to receive a pin 26 by which a clevis 21 is attached and, also at the rear end below the plane of the cable bight, apertured lateral ears 28 receiving a horizontal bolt 29. Said bolt, as indicated, engages the terminal loops of a plurality of tent-reinforcing ropes comprised of a member 39 attached to the tent on the median line of the rear wall and receiving a stay-engaging ring at its lower end, a member 3| leading diagonally to the forward end of the side wall at each side of the tent, and members 32 leading to the rear end of the side walls lower edges. Said members 3! and 32 similarly are fitted with stay-engaging rings, the members 3| additionally being connected by exteriorly disposed rings with laterally extending stays 34. While not illustrated, the tent is provided with flaps which depend. over the lastnamed rings to cover the openings through which connection is had with the interiorly disposed diagonal ropes 3|.

As respects the connection between the chafing cable and the marginal edges of the tent, said edges at spaced intervals are fitted with grommets 35 and for engagement therewith I provide seizure devices consisting in clamps formed of companion independent cable-engaging jaws 36 and 37 having approximate semi-cylindrical threaded shanks 36' and 37' which interfit with one another and receive coacting nuts 38 and 39 between which the grommets are engaged. The jaws are applied over the cable and clamped by advancing the nut 38 to have the shanks extend in an approximate horizontal plane laterally from the cable, following which the grommets are inserted over the shanks and the nuts 39 applied to clamp the grommets against the nuts 38. Said jaws are of a length to extend only slightly beyond the diametrical center of the cable whereby an uninterrupted chafing surface along the slotdefining inner surface is obtained.

Having reference to the boom arms I 4 and 15, each are fitted with a clamping collar 40 through the terminal flanges 4| of which a threaded eye-bolt 42 is received, the protruding threaded end of the eye-bolt being engaged by a clamping eye-nut 43, said bolt and nut forming in efiect a double-eyed pintle of which one eye lies at the upper side and one eye at the under side of the respective inclined booms with the pintle shank projecting across the interstice between the collar flanges. Each of said boom fittings acts to support a suspension line to the adjacent end of the hatch cover as well as a cargo line for loading and unloading cargo and the above described arrangement of parts is with the particular object of aifording ready attachment of the tentsuspending lines irrespective of the side, port or starboard, from which operations are being carried on. More especially, each of said cargo and suspension lines pass about pulley blocks suspended from the fittings and it is necessary in order that fouling between cargo and suspension lines be prevented that the suspension line, indicated by 44, for the rear end of the tent lie to the rear of the cargo line 45 and that the suspension line 46 for the forward end of the tent lie above the forward cargo-line 41, in other words lie in reverse relationship relative to the centrally disposed mast IS. The boom fitting which I have devised accommodates this reversal of relative location, the pulley blocks 48 through which the suspension lines pass being formed with a hook 49 whereby the bill of the same may be engaged with either of the two oppositely positioned eyes of the respective boom fitting, the pulley blocks 50 through which the cargo lines 45 or 41, as the case may be, pass being permanently attached to the collar assembly by means of a ring 5| received about the pintle shank to lie in the interstice between the collar flanges. The central location of the ring 5| equalizes the thrust transmitted from the load to the boom.

The suspension line 44 which supports the rear end of the hatch cover engages the clevis 2'! of the block 20 while the suspension line 46 for the forward end of the hatch cover engages a sling 52 having its free ends secured to the clews 2|, said sling constituting an extension of the ridge slot l8.

It is believed unnecessary to specifically set forth the manner by which loading and unloading through the instrumentality of the loading lines 45 and 4'! is carried on as the same is common practice.

I intend that no limitations be implied other than as may be expressly set forth in the hereto annexed claims.

What I claim, is:

1. In combination with a hatch cover formed with side walls the upper edges of which are separated to define a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line, a block carried by the cover at the end of the slot and adapted for connection with a suspension line for supporting the cover, re-inforcing ropes disposed interiorly of the side walls and attached to and running diagonally from said block to the opposite lower edge of the respective side walls, and means com prised of exteriorly disposed stays directly connected to each of said diagonal re-inforcing ropes and adapted to extend laterally from the side walls for attachment to securing devices on the deck of the vessel.

2. A block for attaching the re-inforcing ropes of a hatch cover of the character described to a suspension line by which the hatch cover is supported, said hatch cover consisting in a tentlike structure of which the side walls are spaced apart at their upper ends to define a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line, the re-inforcing ropes being comprised of lines extending along the upper and rear edges of the side walls and diagonally between the upper rear and the lower forward corners, said block comprising a member of an approximate U-shaped plan configuration adapted to be received at the rear end of the ridge slot and formed exteriorly with means by which the re-inforcing ropes which lie at each side of the ridge slot are attached, the rear end of the block providing lateraliy spaced apertured ears for the reception of a horizontal bolt by which the upper ends of the other reinforcing ropes are attached and having a rear wardly inclined upward extension formed to accommodate the attachment of the suspension line, said upward extension lying in the approximate longitudinal median line of the block with the ears lying in planes spaced equidistantly at opposite sides of the same.

3. In combination in a hatch cover of the character described providing a tent-like structure formed with a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line and having a flexible guard strip marginally defining said ridge slot, clamping devices engaging the guard stripat spaced intervals and interconnecting the same with the upper edges of the tent side walls.

4. In combination, a hatch cover consisting in a tent-like structure formed with a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line, a flexible. guard strip marginally defining said ridge slot, the upper edges of the side walls lying at each side of the guard strip being provided with grommets disposed at spaced intervals of the length of the ridge slot, and means received through the eye of the grommets and engageable with the guard strip for securing the guard strip and the side wall edges, one relative to the other.

5. In a hatch cover for the purpose described consisting in a tent-like structure having the upper edges of the side walls spaced apart to provide a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line, an apical re-inforcing means extending longitudinally along each side of the. ridge slot to operate as a guard for chafing purposes, and clamps attached to said guard and to the upper edges of the side walls for connecting the guard to the side walls.

6. A hatch cover comprised of the combination of a member formed with side walls the upper edges of which are spaced apart to define a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line, means attached to the upper edges of said side walls and extending in parallel relationship longitudinally of the ridge slot to operate as chafing strips for the ridge slot, and a flexible sling having its free ends interconnected with the forward ends of the chafing strips and extending outwardly therefrom to serve as a prolongation of the ridge slot, said sling being adapted to be secured to the vessel for suspending the forward end of the cover.

'7. A hatch cover comprised of the combination of a member formed with side walls the upper edges of which are spaced apart to define a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line, and a support for the end of said cover comprising a flexible sling having its free ends interconnected with the cover at the forward ends of the slot and extending outwardly therefrom as a prolongation of the slot.

8. A hatch cover comprised of the combination of a member the side walls of which are quadrilateral in plan and re-inforced by ropes disposed interiorly of the cover and attached to and runing diagonally of the side Wall from one extremity of the upper edge to the opposite extremity of the lower edge thereof, and exteriorly disposed stays directly connected to said diagonal reinforcing ropes and arranged to extend laterally therefrom for attachment to securing devices on the deck of the vessel.

9. An end block for the ridge slot of a hatch cover of the character described, the slot being bordered along each side by flexible guard strips accommodating movement of a cargo line between the same, said block being of U-shaped plan configuration providing means for clamping the guard strips thereto and forming a slot operating as a prolongation of the ridge slot, the block having a sheave supported therein-to prevent chafing of the cargo line as the latter is carried to the end limits of the slot.

10. An end block for use with a hatch cover of the character providing a ridge slot for the operation therein of a cargo line and functioning to attach the reinforcing ropes of said cover to a suspension line by which the hatch cover is supported, said end-block being of U-shaped plan configuration forming a slot operating as a prolongation of the ridge slot of the cover and having its heel part, which is to say the closed end of the U, formed with upwardly and downwardly projecting extensions of which the former is formed to accommodate the attachment of the suspension line and of whichthe latter is formed to accommodate the attachment of the tent-reinforcing ropes.

11. The described end block of claim 10 wherein the extension for attaching said tent-reinforcing ropes comprises a pair of complementary ears disposed at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the block and pierced transversely for the reception of a horizontal pin.

12. An end-block for use with a hatch,cover of the character providing a cable-lined ridge slot and functioning as a coupling to attach a suspension line for the cover to said cable and also to reinforcing ropes for the cover, said end-block being grooved along its sides and being fitted with clamps for securing the cable in the grooves and, above and below the plane of said cablereceiving grooves, being formed with means accommodating, respectively, the attachment of the suspension line and the tent-reinforcing ropes to the block.

13. An end-block for a hatch cover of the character providing a cable-lined ridge slot, the block being characterized in that means are provided for the attachment thereto of a plurality of tent ropes reinforcing the cover, a suspension line for supporting the cover, and the cable, thereby to function as a coupling connecting said cable, the suspension line, and the tent ropes, each to the others.

14. An end-block according to claim 13, said cable in its application to the block being turned about the latter, and wherein said means for the attachment of the suspension line and the tent ropes to the block lie, respectively, above and below the bight of the applied cable.

THOMAS H. MACGEORGE. 

